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The Hue & Cry.
When Winter had maist gane awa',An' a' the fields near bare o' snaw;When Spring began to come again,An' birds flew whistlin', o'er the plain:Ae day, when a' the ploughs were lous'd,An' men an' horse to dinner hous'd,A wee bit south o' Gilston-Yett,Twa kintra-parish Bellmen met;Right fond they were to see each other,Ilk lo'ed the ither like a brother.The first they ca'd him Bellman-Johnnie,Jamie the ither, a faithfu' cronie:They sat them down to tak' a rest,An' crack 'bout things as they thought best:About their horrid acts of sin,Auld Johnnie then did thus begin.
JOHNNIE.Weel, Jamie man, how hae you been?It's nine lang months sin' I've you seen;An' how is trade now movin' wi' you?An' how's your folk a' down beside you?
JAMIE.Troth Johnnie man, I'm gayan' weel,But trade is locking rather ill:
